What do you expect the finest Microsoft accredited suppliers to provide a trainee in the United Kingdom at present? Obviously, the finest Microsoft authorised training routes, providing a range of options to lead you into a selection of professions with IT.
Maybe you’d like to look for a person who’s got industry experience, who can give you some ideas on what sort of job would be right for you, and what sort of duties are correct for somebody with your character and ability.
Be assured that your training course is designed to your ability level and skills. A quality company will always guarantee that the training is appropriate for the status you wish to achieve.
Some training companies only provide basic 9am till 6pm support (maybe a little earlier or later on certain days); not many go late into the evening (after 8-9pm) or cover weekends properly.
You’ll be waiting ages for an answer with email based support, and phone support is often to a call-centre that will make some notes and then email an advisor – who’ll call back sometime over the next 1-3 days, when it’s convenient to them. This is not a lot of use if you’re stuck and can’t continue and only have a specific time you can study.
Top training providers tend to use a web-based round-the-clock system combining multiple support operations over many time-zones. You’ll have an environment that switches seamlessly to the best choice of centres irrespective of the time of day: Support available as-and-when you want it.
Don’t under any circumstances take a lower level of service. Online 24×7 support is the only way to go with IT learning. Maybe late-evening study is not your thing; but for most of us, we’re at work when traditional support if offered.
How the program is actually delivered to you is often missed by many students. How is the courseware broken down? And in what order and do you have a say in when you’ll get each part?
Many think it logical (when study may take one to three years to achieve full certification,) that a training provider will issue one module at a time, as you pass each element. Although:
It’s not unusual for trainees to realise that their providers usual training route isn’t as suitable as another. They might find a slightly different order suits them better. And what happens if they don’t finish inside of the expected timescales?
In an ideal situation, you’d get ALL the training materials right at the beginning – giving you them all to return to any point – whenever it suits you. Variations can then be made to the order that you move through the program where a more intuitive path can be found.
Don’t accept anything less than the latest Microsoft (or any other key organisation’s) authorised simulation materials and exam preparation packages.
Because many IT examination boards come from the United States, you need to become familiar with their phraseology. You can’t practice properly by merely answering any old technical questions – it’s essential that you can cope with them in the proper exam format.
It’s a good idea to ask for exam preparation tools that will allow you to check your understanding at any point. Mock exams log the information in your brain – then the actual exam is much easier.
Some training providers supply a practical Job Placement Assistance facility, to help you get your first job. Sometimes, there is more emphasis than is necessary on this service, as it’s relatively easy for well qualified and focused men and women to land a job in IT – as there is such a shortage of well trained people.
Bring your CV up to date as soon as possible however (advice and support for this should come from your course provider). Don’t wait until you’ve graduated or passed any exams.
You’ll often find that you’ll secure your initial job whilst you’re still studying (even in the early stages). If your CV doesn’t show your latest training profile – or it’s not getting in front of interviewers, then you aren’t even in the running!
Most often, a specialist locally based recruitment consultancy (who will get paid by the employer when they’ve placed you) is going to give you a better service than a centralised training company’s service. It also stands to reason that they’ll know the area and local employers better.
A good number of men and women, it would appear, are prepared to study their hearts out (for years sometimes), only to give up at the first hurdle when finding the right position. Introduce yourself… Do everything you can to get in front of employers. Don’t expect a job to just fall into your lap.
Copyright Scott Edwards 2009. Go to HERE or www.sqlcourse.co.uk.
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